Washington Golf

What Washington Golf does

Washington Golf (WA Golf) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit amateur golf association founded in 1922 (originally as the Washington State Golf Association) and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington. It serves as the official United States Golf Association (USGA) representative for Washington and Northern Idaho, administering the World Handicap System and issuing USGA-certified Handicap Indexes through its network of 520 member clubs and 260 affiliated golf facilities. The organization reports 103,000+ individual golfer members and conducts a portfolio of 14 annual championships spanning Men's Amateur, Women's Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Senior, and Super Senior divisions, plus USGA qualifying events and Team Washington / USNDP programming.

Name

Washington Golf

Legal name

Washington Golf

Website

https://wagolf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington Golf (WA Golf) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit amateur golf association founded in 1922 that serves 103,000+ golfers across Washington and Northern Idaho through 520 member clubs, administering USGA handicaps, 14 annual championships, and junior golf programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur Golf Association Services

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Amateur golf association
• Handicap management services
• Golf championship events
• Junior golf programs
• Golf membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to handicap services, member competitions, championships, and exclusive member perks through WA Golf member clubs
2. Championship Entry Fees: Registration fees for tournaments including Men's Mid-Amateur ($325 with cart fee), Senior Men's Amateur, Women's Amateur championships, and other competitive events
3. Advertising Revenue: Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine reaches up to 250,000 members as the official publication of Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington golf associations. Revenue generated from advertiser partnerships.
4. Washington Golf Foundation Donations: Charitable contributions supporting Youth on Course and community initiatives funded through donations to the affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Washington Golf (WA Golf) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit amateur golf association that serves as the official United States Golf Association (USGA) representative for Washington and Northern Idaho. The organization administers USGA Handicap Index certification through 520 member clubs, conducts 14 annual championships across multiple divisions, and operates the GHIN mobile platform for handicap tracking. It also runs junior development programs (Youth on Course), publishes the Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine, and supports community golf initiatives through the affiliated Washington Golf Foundation.

Product overview

Washington Golf (WA Golf) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit amateur golf association serving over 103,000 golfers across Washington and Northern Idaho. The organization operates primarily as a membership-based golf governance and events platform centered around the GHIN Handicap System, which provides official USGA Handicap Index credentials. The product portfolio includes the GPS-enabled GHIN Mobile App for score posting and profile management, the Play List event discovery platform for tournament registration, and a comprehensive championship program spanning 14 annual events including Men's Mid-Amateur, Senior Men's Amateur, Women's Amateur, and various senior/super senior divisions. Supporting services include Youth on Course junior development programs, the Washington Golf Foundation scholarship initiative, Pacific Northwest Golfer Magazine publication, and a Course and Club Directory. The organization also conducts USGA qualifiers and partners with GolfGenius for tournament management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GHIN Handicap System Official USGA Handicap Index system providing members with handicap calculations, score posting capabilities, and officially recognized handicap credentials across golf.
• GHIN Mobile App GPS-enabled mobile application that allows members to access their GHIN profile, post scores, and track their golfing progress on the go.
• Play List Event discovery platform that aggregates tournaments, play days, clinics, lessons, and fundraisers from the WA Golf community, allowing members to find and register for events.
• WA Golf Championships Portfolio of 14 annual golf championships including Men's Mid-Amateur, Senior Men's Amateur, Women's Amateur, Women's Mid-Amateur, Super Senior divisions, and various match play and four-ball events for amateur golfers.
• Youth on Course Junior golf development program providing youth access to affordable golf at participating facilities, scholarships, and tournament opportunities through partnerships with the WJGA.
• Washington Golf Foundation Charitable arm of WA Golf that supports youth golf development through scholarships and grants, ensuring the game is accessible to everyone.
• Pacific Northwest Golfer Magazine Longest-running regional golf publication distributed to up to 250,000 members across Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington golf associations.
• Golf Course Directory Searchable database of golf facilities throughout Washington and Northern Idaho, allowing members to find courses by location.
• Club Directory Directory of WA Golf member clubs that allows golfers to find and join golf clubs in their area.
• Hole-In-One Club Recognition program for golfers who record a hole-in-one, presented in partnership with PLT Golf, featuring member submissions and recognition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 103,000+ golfers served through membership network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNGA is a key affiliated organization with shared governance of Pacific Northwest golf. WA Golf and PNGA co-own The Home Course in DuPont, WA. PNGA Championships information is featured on WA Golf platforms. The organizations work together on regional golf development initiatives.
• United States Golf Association (USGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWA Golf serves as the official USGA representative for Washington and Northern Idaho, conducting USGA qualifying events and administering the World Handicap System. This partnership provides regulatory authority and brand association.
• GHIN (Golf Handicap Information Network)coreTechnology or IntegrationGHIN provides the official handicap tracking platform and mobile app used by WA Golf and its 520 member clubs for USGA Handicap Index issuance and score posting.
• Washington Golf FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting Youth on Course program and community golf initiatives. Donations are directed through the foundation to support junior golf development and accessibility programs.
• PLT GolfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPLT Golf sponsors the Hole-In-One Club program, which celebrates member golfers who achieve holes-in-one during WA Golf competitions.
• First TeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Tee is featured in member stories as a youth golf development partner. WA Golf supports First Tee programs as part of junior golf pathway initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United States Golf Association (USGA): The USGA is the national governing body for amateur golf in the US and Washington Golf's regulatory principal; it sets the Rules of Golf, owns the World Handicap System, and licenses GHIN — making it the upstream incumbent whose decisions shape WA Golf's handicap authority and competitive position.

Direct peers

• Texas Golf Association: The Texas Golf Association is a state-level USGA affiliate providing GHIN handicaps, championships, and member services across Texas, serving a similar member-club-network model to Washington Golf but at significantly larger scale.
• Oregon Golf Association: The OGA is the directly analogous state golf association for Oregon, operating as the official USGA representative, running member championships, administering GHIN handicaps, and serving amateur golfers across Oregon — making it the closest structural peer to Washington Golf.
• Arizona Golf Association: The Arizona Golf Association is the official USGA affiliate for Arizona, providing GHIN-based handicapping, member championships, and club support to amateur golfers; it operates a comparable governance and events model to Washington Golf in a different regional market.
• Florida State Golf Association: The Florida State Golf Association is a large state-level USGA affiliate running GHIN handicaps, member championships, and club services for amateur golfers in Florida — directly comparable to Washington Golf's operations in scale model and product portfolio.
• New York State Golf Association: The New York State Golf Association is the official USGA affiliate for New York, providing GHIN handicaps, member championships, and club services to amateur golfers on a model directly comparable to Washington Golf's WA/Northern Idaho operations.
• Golf Association of Michigan: The Golf Association of Michigan operates as Michigan's official USGA representative, delivering GHIN handicaps, member championships, and club services to amateur golfers in a single-state footprint structurally similar to Washington Golf's two-state service territory.
• Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA): The PNGA is a multi-state regional amateur golf association covering the same Pacific Northwest footprint where Washington Golf operates; it co-owns The Home Course with WA Golf, runs regional championships, and publishes Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine — making it both a strategic partner and the most direct regional peer.
• Southern California Golf Association (SCGA): The SCGA operates as the official USGA affiliate for Southern California, providing GHIN handicaps, member services, club governance support, and championships to amateur golfers in a densely populated market — directly comparable to Washington Golf's role in WA/Northern Idaho.
• Northern California Golf Association (NCGA): The NCGA is the official USGA representative for Northern California and one of the largest state/regional amateur golf associations in the US, operating GHIN handicaps, member competitions, and championships on a comparable model to Washington Golf at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PlayWAGolf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLVh_mZSCbcGvMu_3ZzxEoMv412p_J8ZFy&feature=shared
• Facebookfacebook.com/WeAreWashingtonGolf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wagolf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington Golf